At its 20th Special Meeting from 14 to 21 November 2016 in Vilamoura, Portugal, the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) under the lead of the EU took an impressive number of important decisions. Commissioner Vella said: "I welcome that at its 50th anniversary the second performance review recognises ICCAT's high performance. This means that our efforts to improve international fisheries governance are paying off. I am also very pleased that all Mediterranean countries have agreed to address the dire situation of Mediterranean swordfish by accepting to limit and reduce their catches gradually over 5 years in combination with a comprehensive package of other measures. Bringing back this emblematic species to sustainable levels will benefit many fishermen, including the small scale fleets. But I am also very happy that for the first time ICCAT has agreed to manage sharks through a measure for blue sharks. Unfortunately, though, ICCAT was not yet ready for a shark fins naturally attached policy. However, the high number of supporting countries bodes well for the future."

The final report of the Extraordinary Joint Scientific Committee (JSC) organized in the framework of the Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement (SFPA) between the European Union (EU) and Guinea Bissau (GB) between 07 and 12 October 2016 is now available

EU Commissioner for Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, Karmenu Vella is on mission to Vietnam and China this week and next. The Commissioner will use the visits to both countries push for more international cooperation on ocean governance, including in the fight against illegal fishing and marine litter.

An extraordinary Joint Committee, held at the initiative of the EU, took place in Nouakchott, Mauritania, on 15-16 November in the framework of the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the EU and Mauritania. The Parties reviewed the implementation of EU support for the Mauritanian fisheries sector, introduced new fishing opportunities for EU trawlers, and discussed the MACAPEL investment project.

The EU fisheries ministers have agreed on the 2017 and 2018 fishing limits (or TACs) for 19 deep-sea stocks. For the first time in six years, a unanimous agreement was reached on deep sea TACs and quotas for the next two years. One of these will be fished in accordance with Maximum Sustainable Yield (MSY) for the very first time next year.